Effect of preharvest application of chitosan on the growth and quality of peach fruit (Prunus persica L.)

Chitosan with a natural antimicrobial property has been introduced to protect horticultural crops from diseases as an environmentally friendly method. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the pre-harvest application of chitosan on growth and quality during the late stage of fruit development and on the simulated marketing of the peach fruit (Prunus persica L.). The application of chitosan with calcium chloride ($100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) three times at one week intervals 4 weeks before the harvest significantly increased the fruit weight, changed the fruit shape, and reduced the fruit length/diameter ratio giving the peach fruits a round oblate shape. The calcium treatment contributed to enhancing or maintaining the storage potential by increasing the flesh firmness. However, at higher concentrations of $CaCl_2$, i.e., > $600mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, the positive effects of the chitosan application were offset, and fruit growth was not affected by calcium alone. The application of the chitosan/calcium mixture delayed fruit softening; however, this effect was shortened when the storage temperature was $20^{\circ}C$ rather than $15^{\circ}C$. The internal quality of the fruit was profoundly affected by the concentration of calcium added to the chitosan, and delayed fruit maturation was observed at a higher concentration of calcium. The pre-harvest application of chitosan with calcium contributes to the enhancement of food safety by inhibiting the occurrence of diseases during postharvest handling. Considering the above results, chitosan has the potential to improve both the yield of peach fruits and their storability. Because chitosan can enhance the freshness and shelf-life of fresh produce, it is necessary to examine its effects on other horticultural crops.